Graduation test scores in for Banks
Science results greatly improved, language art scores down slightly
By Jana A. Mitcham
Local high school graduation test scores from 2008 have been released, with results showing that the Banks County School System is at or above the state average in percentage of students passing for most test areas.
For the first time this year, the English/language arts and science tests were fully aligned to the state’s new curriculum, according to the Georgia Department of Education. The new exams “call for higher order thinking” and test “more rigorous material.” Area schools saw a drop in English/language arts scores this year, but saw improvements in science.
The four content areas of the graduation test — English/ language arts, math, social studies and science — are given for the first time to juniors in the spring (see chart for all scores for area schools). Students may return and take the test again until they can qualify for a high school diploma.
Banks County first-time test takers in their junior year had an 87 percent pass rate in English/language arts, down from last year’s 90.1 percent passing and lower than the state’s 90 percent passing in 2008.
But in science, the county saw a dramatic increase in percent passing, and scored 86 percent passing, same as the state average. In 2007, Banks County had 68 percent passing in science.
Banks County also saw improvements in both math and social studies.
